Well, these guys are still hanging around (I do love me a bad pun) over at Renegade Handmade, I am pretty sure they will be making their way back to me soon so if you want to snap one up you will have to be quick! In other news I managed my first full day off the junk, oh, not that kind, I mean biscuits and chocolate and over processed food. I have picked up a pretty awful comfort food habit of late and I am determined to put an end to it now, I’m just fed up with feeling tired and irritable, not to mention blubbery. While we are on the subject of food you must pop over to Nicole’s for a thoughtful post on this very issue.

Time to own up to another recently acquired habit, perhaps fetish is a better word. I just can’t help myself, I *need* to collect hankies, Adam thinks I have gone insane, he just doesn’t get it. We are not supposed to be spending money, some heavy duty saving going on around here, but I couldn’t help it, I spent $8 on this, that’s nearly £5 with postage, yikes!

So, the In Stitches Embroidery Showcase opens tonight at Renegade Handmade in Chicago. I wish I could be there to marvel at all of the wonderful artwork in person. The work of many of my stitching idols will be on display, including the wonderful and lovely Jessica Marquez aka Miniature Rhino. Jessica is pretty much the reason I began to try my hand at embroidery, her work is always such an inspiration, full of beauty, and oh, that neat, super-crisp stitching. Thanks Jessica! I have fallen hard for the work of Jennifer Porter, who goes by the name of Porterness. Scarily good! Check out some samples of the amazing work on display above, or even better, if you are in the area, get yourself down to Renegade Handmade. I still haven’t had a chance to get the images of my submissions out of the camera but you can see some pretty awful scans here. I have been sewing like a demon today to get some work ready for Supervente, neglecting husband, son, friends, siblings and email. Paris reporting will have to wait a little longer too, I have some exciting news to share when the time is right, it is good to be so busy, but why do I always leave things to the last minute?

I received an email recently about a very exciting new ‘pop up’ shop and gallery organized by textile designers Hinshelwood de Borman. The event will showcase textiles, homeware, antiques, taxidermy, artists books, paintings, prints and more from emerging and established British artists, illustrators and designers. The line up of artists involved is impressive to say the least, I wish I could attend, I may have to send some spies on my behalf. If you are in London this is an event that shouldn’t be missed. Check the flier below for more information. Get thee gone kittens!

Caitlin Hinshelwood

Rose de Borman

Hannah Waldron

Jazmine Miles Long

Cornelia O Donovan

Alice Stevenson

Susie Cowie

My apologies that things have been so quiet here for a while, I have been working on my submissions for the embroidery show at Renegade Handmade next month. You can see one of my embroidered collages below. I need to get some proper images up soon, that poor deer needs her legs back, how embarrassing!

I am extremely excited (if not hyperventilating with surprise and joy!) to announce that I have been invited to take part in a show at Renegade Handmade’s Spotlight Gallery in Chicago. The exhibition opens on the 20th of November and runs throughout the holiday period, Jenny Hart will be making an in-store appearance on the opening weekend. I have such a lot of work to do over the next week, we are facing postal strikes here and I want to be sure to get my work off in plenty of time. I will be unveiling some new pieces at the show and there will be old favourites too. I haven’t heard who else will be taking part so, if you know, send me a little bird with the information!